440 



HO RTI CULTURE 



April 7, 1906 



moist atmosphere; this will induce strong healthy 

 growth which is the forerunner of a good supply of 

 flowers. \- they fill the pots with roots occasional 

 watering of liquid manure is beneficial. A temperature 

 of 55 degrees to 60 degrees suits them. As the plants 

 are terrestrial and evergreen it is not advisable to dry 

 them off at resting time. If they require a rest it is 

 best given by putting them in a cooler place and keep- 

 iij them slightly drier. 



There are many mon species belonging to this genus, 

 and there are also many fine hybrids which have been 

 raised of late years but these are too expensive for 

 general use and hence the reason for recommending this 

 old fashioned orchid which is so easily grown and 

 flowers so freely. 



British Horticulture. 



GROWING FOR MARKET 



In a paper which was recently read before the 

 members of the Addlestone Gardeners' Society some 

 interesting facts were given to show the progress made 

 in commercial horticulture in this country. The total 

 area under orchards in 1904 was 243,008 acres, and 

 small fruits 77.947 acres. The former has increased 

 in 63.9 per cent, in 31 years. Fruit growing has in 

 many places been substituted for corn crops, which are 

 no longer profitable owing to the heavy cheap foreign 

 supplies. Two tendencies are observable in the modern 

 development of market growing, and these are the 

 cheapening methods of cultivation and • the increase 

 in the variety of crops grown. Amongst the later 

 ehanges touched upon were experiments which are being 

 made in the utilization of the motor service for convey- 

 ing produce to London, and a new departure which is 

 being made in the Evesham district in Worcestershire 

 to produce early vegetables. Hitherto this branch has 

 been chiefly in the hands of the French growers, who by 

 the use of frames and bell glasses cultivate quantities of 

 lettuce, radishes, asparagus, cauliflower, etc.. for the 

 British markets. A French grower lias been conduct- 

 ing operations in the Evesham district, and he has al- 

 ready demonstrated that it is possible to produce as good 

 crops as those cultivated in the neighborhood of Paris. 



IRISH HORTICULTURE 



F. W. Moore. Director of the Eoyal Botanic Gardens. 

 Glasnevin, has lately published some interesting facts 

 relating to the progress made in Irish horticulture in 

 recent years. He considers that there has been a dis- 

 tinct advance in the cultural standard of the private 

 establishments, whilst the same satisfactory movement 

 has characterized various branches of commercial hor- 

 ticulture. Instead of being dependent on English 

 sources for supplies, the Irish nurserymen have estab- 

 lished a world-wide trade. The Irish seed merchants 

 now secure large contracts outside the country. "Boses, 

 tulips, narcissi, herbaceous plants, anemones and 

 as," M r MEooi tat< ' ire now grown better in 

 Ireland than anywhere elese, and our Irish specialists 

 are kept bu- rs for these classes of 



plants for aln m utside Ireland, where the 



climate permits - to be grown. Holland 



• u ii ■ own specialties." The 



well established, for it 



is to the •"Emerald Isle - '" we look for some of the lead- 

 ing novelties at the summer exhibition of the National 

 Bose Society. Fruit growing is another branch in 

 which satisfactory strides have been made. Under the 

 auspices of the Department of Agriculture over 200 

 acres of young orchards have been planted. Experts 

 are engaged in giving practical instruction in various 

 districts, to provide trained men. 



AN IMPORTANT WORK 



Professor G. S. Boulger, F. L. S., a noted writer on 

 botanical subjects, is publishing in monthly parts, 

 through Messrs. Cassell & Co., his famous work on 

 "Familiar Trees." illustrated by photo-micrographs of 

 each wood, and a series of water-color drawings. Some 

 years ago Professor Boulger read a paper at the Sur- 

 veyors' Institute on •'The scientific study of timber," 

 and this was to some extent the foundation of his great 

 work on wood. His real interest in trees, however, 

 began in 1876, when some students in his natural his- 

 tory class at the Royal Agricultural College at Ciren- 

 cester entered for the forestry examination of the High- 

 land and Agricultural Society. At their request the 

 Professor gave what was undoubtedly the first attempt 

 at a complete course of lectures on forestry in the coun- 

 try. This led to his contributing to the Journal of 

 Forestry which was started about that time. In that 

 journal Professor Boulger published a series of papers 

 on ''Cultural First Principles," which fully dealt with 

 the physiology of trees, and he followed this by a series 

 intended partly for artists on '"The Beauty of British 

 Trees." As an indication of the painstaking character 

 of Professor Boulger's work it may be mentioned that 

 his works on wood and "Familiar Trees" each repre- 

 sented three years' hard work. 



A DUCAL DOMAIN 



One of the most delightful estates to be seen in the 

 sylvan surroundings of Surrey is that of the Duke of 

 Connaught, at Bagshot Park. The extensive grounds 

 are noted for the rrlagnificenee of the trees and flowering 

 shrubs. The place is also full of historic interest, for 

 here the visitor is shown a remarkable specimen of 

 Abies firma, planted by the late Emperor Frederick of 

 Germany in 1880. In the same year the late Queen 

 Victoria planted an Abies pinsapo. Five years later 

 Prince Leopold of Prussia planted a Tsuga Menziesii, 

 and the Duchess of Connaught a similar tree. In the 

 gardens rhododendrons and azaleas are special features. 

 Some of the former are 33 feet through, and they flour- 

 ish most luxuriantly owing to the peaty nature of the 

 soil. Kalmias are another leading attraction. Kalmia 

 latifolia often grows to the height of 18 feet. The 

 varieties vary in color from nearly white to deep pink. 

 Leading to the orangery are three distinct avenues. One 

 is called the rhododendron walk, with plants from 5 to 

 12 feet high. One of the finest varieties is Bosslyana, 

 which flowers in March, with bright scarlet blooms. 

 Another avenue is lined on either side with Azalea 

 pontica in variety, growing more than five feet high, 

 • mil of a •< r\ large circumference, whilst the third has 

 yews on both sides. < >n the walls of the orangery, Wis- 

 taria alba, flowers luxuriously in summer. On the man- 

 sion there are grown jasminum. pyracantha, escallonia, 

 variegated ivies, and Crimson Rambler roses. 



y^JH. ftell*&. 



London '•' 



